Reports say the “shock” strategy could become more common, partly because it helps prevent hyped-up albums leaking onto the internet before their official release.

Lee Ann Callahan-Longo, general manager of Beyonce’s production company, said: “We had a multitude of things we were trying to accomplish, some things we were trying to avoid, and this turned out to be the right perfect plan for us.”

She added: “It wasn’t easy and we were really careful.

“It started with a very small core group of people and only grew when necessary in order to make something happen.

“It got a little dicey there and concerning as we got closer and closer as the circle had to widen.”